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Trace elements and antioxidant enzymes associated with oxidative stress in the pre-eclamptic/eclamptic mothers during
Reena Negi1, Deepti Pande, Kanchan Karki
1Department of Biophysics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background & Aims:
Pre-eclampsia is associated with oxidative stress in the maternal circulation. The aim of the study was to access the oxidative stress status by quantification of byproducts generated during lipid peroxidation; deficient antioxidant activity and inadequate trace elements during oxidative damage in the umbilical cord blood of pre-eclamptic/eclamptic mothers and its effect on the fetal outcome.
Methods:
In a case control study umbilical cord blood samples were collected during delivery from cases of pre-eclamptic/eclamptic mothers and from normotensive (uncomplicated pregnancy) subjects as controls. Concentrations of malondialdehyde, trace elements (Zn, Cu, Se, Mg) and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx) were determined.
Results:
Decreased levels of Zinc (p < 0.001), Copper (p < 0.001), Selenium (p < 0.005), Magnesium (p < 0.05), Superoxide dismutase (p < 0.001), Glutathione Peroxidase (p < 0.001) and elevated levels of malondialdehyde (marker of lipid peroxidation) in the umbilical cord blood of pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnancies were observed. Positive correlation between Zn and SOD (Pearson r = 0.581, p < 0.001), Cu and SOD (Pearson r = 0.576, p < 0.001) and Se and GPx (Pearson r = 0.445, p < 0.005) was also observed.
Conclusions:
The reduced levels of trace elements associated with inadequate amount of antioxidant enzymes may be important contributing factor associated with oxidative stress leading to endothelial dysfunction in pre-eclamptic/eclamptic mothers.
